The NHS must end mass centralisation and instead expand its local services to treat people in their own communities, Simon Stevens, the new chief executive of NHS England has said.

In a marked reversal of current policy, Stevens said the NHS must expand its local services because many patients are not treated with “dignity and compassion”.

Many health services in western Europe were already successfully serving their local communities without centralising everything, he added. He told the Daily Telegraph on Friday: "A number of other countries have found it possible to run viable local hospitals serving smaller communities than sometimes we think are sustainable in the NHS."

What do you think? Should there be more investment in community services? How can they help? Or, should there be more hospital closures? Share your thoughts in the comment section below or tweet us @GdnHealthcare